Why your riding playlist is the most important thing to pack.

Hank Williams Jr., Slayer, MGMT, Steel Panther. Besides being good old fashioned legends these artists are a few of many that make up my Snowboarding playlist. That's right! I spend hours over the summer months compiling a 200+ song playlist that will be my companion every day of the season. It never asks for anything either, just a little power and and this little guy keeps me singing on every chair and tree run from November right through till May. Feeling nervous on top of a jump run in the park? Or had the perfect song come on floating through the trees? That's the difference a song can make!

The purists out there who say “I need to hear my carve bro” have never had deaudmau5 aural psynapse while hammering tree lines or Midnight Oils ‘Beds are Burning’ blaring at the top of a freshly blanketed groomer run. Take it from me friends, it's hard to top!

Combined with this must have essential you must also be aware of the risks.

1. During your rigorous check list of pockets before heading up you take one step off the gondola and realise that your faithful but shoddy apple headphones that are holding together by their last copper wire and some tape are sitting in your cars cup holder 2 vertical kms at the base car park. Crap.

2. You won't be fooled twice in one week you have your headphones this time and are ready to shake your hangover with some of my favourite James Taylor and you see 2% left on your phone. Sob.

3. I have always ridden with one headphone out, for the small chance that I need to hear a cry for help or Avalanche warning from trusty ski patrol. At least turn your volume down to hear others, You don't want to be Impaled by a run away snow blade either!

The great thing about your own playlist is it's completely customised to your tastes, and you will know it better than you know your sweethearts underwear preference by the time your riding the final chair for the year. Don't rush this. It deserves the time to make it brilliant, after all it will be with you every turn.Here a few hints to find great riding music.

1. Movie soundtracks. They have already done all the hard work for you and filtered out the crap stuff. Point Break to Dirty Dancing. There's some greats. What's your favourite movie?

2. www.snowboardtunes.com this brilliant website has every years snowboard movie pro riders music and the link to download it. Want to get stoked? Wear your ski or snowboard boots and watch a shred film. This site also lists the latest movies out this season.

3. Share playlists. My sweetheart is an artist when it comes to making a shred playlist so I always sneak a bit of hers onto mine. Plus I don't mind a bit of T. Swift every now and then!I can make it through a day on hill without a meal, I can even make it through without stopping for a cool refreshing beverage. But I cannot and will not ride by choice or by some Chinese water torture without my tunes.